CarVerify

Yamaha VMX1200 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Yamaha VMX1200 car check

Is the Yamaha VMX1200 reliable? We analysed 22,292 real MOT tests across 2,219 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Yamaha VMX1200? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 22,292 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.8%
Typical Mileage
19,569mi
Annual Mileage
528mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
41yrs

The Yamaha VMX1200 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Yamaha VMX1200.

Yamaha VMX1200 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Yamaha VMX1200. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Yamaha VMX1200 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Yamaha VMX1200 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

86.9%
2008
89.1%
2007
93%
2006
88.2%
2005
86.4%
2004
90.6%
2003
88.4%
2002
87%
2001
87.7%
2000
87.1%
1999
87%
1998
87.4%
1997
85%
1996
84.6%
1995
87.8%
1994
86%
1993
85.2%
1992
85.5%
1991
84.9%
1990
85.1%
1989

Yamaha VMX1200 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Yamaha VMX1200 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 187
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 184
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 170
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 95
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 76
Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 73
Exhaust is leaking and excessively noisey 73
reflector on motorcycle missing 62
Horn not working 57

Yamaha VMX1200 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Yamaha VMX1200 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
175 mi/yr
Typical
528 mi/yr
Average
1,163 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,297 mi/yr

Yamaha VMX1200 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Yamaha VMX1200 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2008 160 86.9% 6,405 11,036 20,847
2007 119 89.1% 5,565 11,008 18,042
2006 158 93.0% 9,391 14,781 22,010
2005 434 88.2% 6,559 10,794 18,389
2004 369 86.4% 7,447 14,207 24,466
2003 890 90.6% 5,775 11,509 19,424
2002 1,220 88.4% 9,050 15,365 24,404
2001 1,205 87.0% 8,818 14,768 22,074
2000 1,928 87.7% 8,737 15,910 26,527
1999 2,878 87.1% 11,671 18,540 26,587
1998 3,294 87.0% 11,713 18,535 28,556
1997 2,495 87.4% 12,314 21,718 32,912
1996 1,082 85.0% 13,319 23,004 34,387
1995 480 84.6% 14,155 21,264 29,102
1994 384 87.8% 12,558 20,905 29,317
1993 534 86.0% 14,196 25,109 36,000
1992 832 85.2% 16,198 24,407 33,512
1991 773 85.5% 14,847 25,857 38,754
1990 768 84.9% 17,474 27,587 40,058
1989 550 85.1% 19,903 27,135 35,860

How Long Does a Yamaha VMX1200 Last?

Based on 2,219 Yamaha VMX1200 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
21.4 years
Median
22.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
41 years

Yamaha VMX1200 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Yamaha VMX1200 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
19,569 mi
75th Percentile
29,934 mi
95th Percentile
50,976 mi
Max Recorded
484,919 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Yamaha VMX1200

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2006

93.0% MOT pass rate from 158 tests

Year to avoid
1986

81.9% MOT pass rate from 293 tests

The best year to buy a used Yamaha VMX1200 is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.0% across 158 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Yamaha VMX1200 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Yamaha VMX1200 THIS CAR 86.8% 22,292 19,569 mi 41 yrs
Yamaha Yzf R1 86.5% 175,313 16,232 mi 28 yrs
Yamaha FZS600 85% 157,659 22,466 mi 28 yrs
Yamaha XJR1300 88.8% 107,128 16,836 mi 27 yrs
BMW X2 SDRIVE20I Sport Auto 88.1% 8,939 29,652 mi — yrs

Compared to the Yamaha Yzf R1 (86.5% pass rate) and the Yamaha FZS600 (85.0% pass rate), the Yamaha VMX1200 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Yamaha VMX1200 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Yamaha VMX1200

Should you buy a used Yamaha VMX1200?

The Yamaha VMX1200 has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.8% across 22,292 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Yamaha VMX1200 are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (187 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (184), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (170). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Yamaha VMX1200 owner drives around 528 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Yamaha VMX1200 models stay on UK roads for around 41 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Yamaha VMX1200 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha VMX1200 reliable?
Based on 22,292 MOT tests, the Yamaha VMX1200 has a 86.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Yamaha VMX1200?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Yamaha VMX1200 do per year?
The typical Yamaha VMX1200 does around 528 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Yamaha VMX1200 last?
Most Yamaha VMX1200 models stay on UK roads for around 41 years based on our analysis of 2,219 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Yamaha VMX1200?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Yamaha VMX1200?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Yamaha VMX1200 is 2006 with a 93.0% pass rate across 158 tests.